Stock straightener for cold header devices



y 1, 1953 J. H; FRIEDMAN 2,646,102

STOCK STRAIGHTENER FOR cow HEADER mmczs I Filed March 15, 1949 '5Sfieets-Shept 1,

IN V EN TOR. 4 JOHN A! FE/EDMA/V A froz /V676 J. H. FI QIEDMAN STOCKSTRAIGHTENER FOR COLD HEADER DEVICES Fil'd March 15, 1949 July 21, 19535 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS July 21, 1953 J. H. FRIEDMAN 2,64 2

' swocx STRAIGHTENER FOR cow HEADER DEVICES Filed March 15, 1949 A sshee't's sneet s IN V EN TOR JOHN H. FRIED/14A N A 7 7DE/VEKS July 21,11953 J. H. FRIEDMAN STOCK STRAIGHTENER FOR COLD HEADER DEVICES 5Sheets-Sk s? 4 Filed March 15, 1949 W '7 In 11 V W W W W/ W mV WT n W Me a T M .m w w w k x W w m w a /80Z00,802402602d9%0320fl0 0 20 40 60 60IOOIZOAIO 0490 INVENTOR. Jam/4n fie/[OMAN ATTORNEYS y 1, 1953 J. H,FRIEDMAN 2, 0

STOCK STRAIGHTENER FOR COLD HEADER DEVICES Filed March 15, 1,949 7 5Quests-Sheet 5 IN V ENTOR.

JOHN A. FRIEDMAN Patented July 21, 1953 STOCK STRAIGHTENER FOR COLDHEADER DEVICES John H. Friedman, Tiffin, Ohio, assignor to The NationalMachinery Company, Tiffin, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application March 15, 1949, Serial No. 81,514 3Claims. (01. 153-39) This invention relates to wire or rod straighteningand handling apparatus particularly adapted foruse in connection withcold headers for similar machines which utilize coiled lengths of wireor rod stock such as, for instance, the apparatus covered by my U. S.Patent 2,219,811, issued October 29, 1940. e I

Cold headers and similar machines are commonly provided with feed rollsor other feed mechanism designed tofeed the stock into machines by stepsor as by required by the particular machine, the stock ordinarily beingfed from reels or coils containing relatively long lengths.

The feeding of the stock step by step into the machine is timed withrespect to the cycle of operations carried out by the cold header.Reference in this connection is made to the U. S. Letters Patent to W;L. Clouse, 2,139,936, issued December" 13, 1938, showing the importantrelation between the feeding of the stock into the machine with respectto the movements of the header slide, carriage, cut-off and knock-outmovement. Numerous expedients have been proposed to eliminate the bendor curve imparted to the stock due to thecoiling thereof prior to theintroduction of such stock between the feed rolls used to advance thestock into the cold header. Such prior art expedients have included aplurality of offset rolls through which the stock is pulled by the feedrolls so that a length of stock is straightened by the straighteningrolls at the same time a length in advance thereof is being moved by thefeed rolls.

It will be'understood by those skilled in the art that it is desirableto relieve the feed rolls of the high loads that would be imposedthereon by the pulling of the stock through the straightening rolls soas to minimize the gouging, scoring or marring of the rod stock that ischaracteristic of a high gripping pressure across the feed rolls. Itwill also be understood that where the straightening roll movement iscoincident with the feed roll movement the power requirements'for thestraightening movement occur at a time when the header slide of themachine is approaching the bed frame dies.

According to the instant invention, I have provided an apparatus whichwill straighten successive portions of the stock being fed into themachine by the feed rolls at. a time when the feed rolls are stationaryand wherein the straightening load is carried by the cold header at atime when the header slide is moving to its back cenm osition. Itis,accordingly,an object of my inv vention to provide a mechanism to beattached to or combined .with a cold header or similar ma chineoperating upon wire or rod stock which will ,a mechanism according tothe preceding object wherein a length of unstraightened wire rearwardlyof the feed rolls is supported at each end thereof and a straighteningmember moved in a direction transverse to the direction of feed isbrought into engagement with the supported length of stock so asto'bring the axis thereof into alignment with the axis of the stockforwardly of the feed rolls.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a mechanism accordingto the preceding objects wherein the feed rollsengage one end of thesupported length of stock and the other end of said length of stock isengaged by the starting rolls during the straightening of that length.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a mechanism accordingto the preceding object wherein the wire straightening load istransmitted to the straightening mechanism from a part of the coldheader thatmoves when the header slide recedes from the bed frame diesand that is idle or dwells when the header slide is approaching the bedframe dies so that the drive means for the cold header takesthestraightening load at a time out the movement of the feed rolls.

Other objects and advantages relating to simplicity of design, economiesin manufacture and convenience in use will appear from the followingdescription and the appended drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a cold header and stock feed arrangementembodying my 'inven-' tion;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fi 1;

Fig. 3 is-an enlarged elevation showing in detail the feeding andstraightening apparatus of my invention v Fig. 4 is an elevation withparts broken away showing the transmission of the cold header cam shaftdrive to the straightening apparatus at one end of thestraighteningstock;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the drive at the other end ofthe straightening stock;

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the relation between the stock straighteningmotion and the movement of cooperating cold header parts;

of phase with Fig. 7 is a sectional view with parts in plan" showing therelation between the moving straightening lever and a fixedstraightening anvil; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view in elevation of a feeding and supporting unitembodying my invention. Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated myinvention in the environment of a cold header indicated as at l0,wherein a reciprocating header slide H moves horizontally in the bedframe I2 to effect a working of metal blanks between the cooperatingheader slide and bed frame dies [3 and M respectively. It will beunderstood that the cold header includes a transfer mechanism, notshown, arranged to transfer the blanks from one set of cooperating diesto the next adjacent set and that the knockuts are reciprocated to ejectthe worked blanks from the bed frame dies I4.

The rod or wire stock from which the work pieces or blanks are cut iscarried by the reel mechanism indicated at It and the stock I! is fedin, through the bed frame [2 as at 18 by the feed mechanisms indicatedin its entirety as at IS. The feed rolls 20 and 2| are turned in timedrelation with respect to the header slide movement as shown in Fig. 6 soas to advance a length of stock into the cold header against anadjustable stop 22 and such advanced length is thereafter cut off andsequentially transferred step by step through the die stations 13-45.The connecting rod 23 transmits the movement of the crank shaft of thecold header to the feed mechanism I9. The stock starting unit isindicated in its entirety as at 25 and includes a pair of rolls 28 and2? arranged to be driven by the motor 28 through gear reduction 29sothat when the free end of the stock I! from the gear is grippingbetween the cooperating rolls 2-2? and the motor 28 energized, the stockwill be advanced into position between the feed rolls Ell-2i. The feedroll unit I9 is detachably supported on the bed frame and the startingunit 25 is in turn supported as a unit on the feed roll mechanism is sothat the axis of the stock passing through the opening 18 in the bedframe is in alignment with the axis of the stock gripped between thefeed rolls 29-25 and the rolls 25-41.

The straightening mechanism mounted on unit 25 includes an anvil bracketto support the anvil 3| mounted thereon extending beneath the stock 17disposed between the two pairs of rolls 28--2l and 26- 27. The anvil BIis preferably grooved as best'shown in Fig. 7 and is preferablysupported in space slightly below the horizontal plane between the twosets of rolls so as to compensate for any spring back in the stock afterthe stock between the two sets of rolls has been subjected to astraightening action. It will be understood by those skilled in the artthat the vertical adjustment of the anvil 3| will vary somewhatdepending upon the size of the stock being handled and the spring backcharacteristics of the particular stock for the length beingstraightened. The anvil 3! is provided with a transverse pin 32 uponwhich is fulcrumed a straightening lever 33; The upper end of the lever33 is bifurcated to provide arms 34 and 35 (Fig. 7), which arms areapertured to carry the pin 36 which rotatably supports the straightening roll 31. The lever 33 is arranged to move the straightening roll38 from the full line posi tion, as shown in Fig. 3, to the dotted lineposition shown in Fig. 3.

The timing of the motion of the lever 33, with respect. to the timedrotation of the feed rolls 202l, is such that the straightening roll 31moves to its dotted line position as shown in Fig. 3 while the feedrolls are advancing stock into the cold header. The unstraightened stockwhich is thus advanced in through the space between the two pairs ofrolls is characterized by a convex curvature resulting from thecurvature imparted to the stock on the reel. Thus, the unstraightenedstock supported in the space between roll 2! and roll 2'! is bowedupward slightly so as to be out of contact with the anvil and above astraight line between the points of support provided by rolls 2! and 21.When, however, after the feed rolls have completed their stock advancemotion the straightening roll 2! is moved to the full line position ofFig. 3 and the stock is thereby straightened. The first increment ofstraightening is obtained by bringing the entire length of stocksupported between rolls 2i and 27 into a horizontal plane and the secondor final phase of the straightening is accomplished by downward movementof the roll 3? on a shorter length of stock, namely, that stock in thespace between the freeend of the anvil 3i and the roll 2 i.

The limit positions of the straightening roll 3?, with respect to theplane of the straightened stock, may be varied by means of theadjustable connecting rod 33 extending between the lower end of thelever 33 and the rock lever 39 fixed to shaft 4c carried by the cold.header. It will be understood that adjustments of the rod 38 andvertical adjustments of the straightening anvil 3! will be madefordiiferent diameters of stock and stock having different spring backcharacteristics.

The rocking motion characterizing lever 39 is transmitted to the rockshaft 40 by means of a gear 32 fixed to the shaft 49 in mesh with a gear43 fixed to the cam shaft 44 extending transversely of the bed frame ofthe cold header. It will be found by reference to the phase diagram ofFig. 6 and to the patent to Clouse, 2,139,936, above referred to, thatthe cam shaft 44 is turned at a time when the header slide is recedingfrom the bed frame dies so that the knock-outs actuated by said camshaft eject the blanks during this phase of header slide movement. Thisarrangement provides that a straightening lever motion is synchronizedwith the cam shaft motion and downward motion of roll 3? is thus out ofphase with the movement of the stock feed rolls 292i. There are numerousadvantages to this arrangement. It eliminates the need for an auxiliarypower unit to drive the stock straightening device. It utilizes thepower available in the main power unit for the header slide at a timewhen the header slide is not required to effect a working in thecooperating dies l3--i4. It straightens the curved stock coming from thereel at a time when there is no motion of the stock in the direction ofits length and eliminates the problem of attempting to straighten stockand advance the stock at the same time. It reduces the gripping pressureacross the feed roll dies and thus reduces the danger of scoring ormarking the stock fed into the cold header. It solves the problem ofstraightening small diameter stock heretofore generally pulled alongwith reciprocating grip dies that mar the stock.

To start the stock into the cold header the free end of the stock isbrought from the reel and placed between the rolls 26 and 21 with saidrolls in'a release position with the release lever 50 swung upwardly toits dotted line position as shown in Fig. 3, The upper roll 29 is fixedto a shaft 51 mounted in a pivoted yoke 52 in the main casting of theunit 25, as best shown in Figs. 7 and 8. A spring 53 is arranged betweenthe main casting and the pivoted yoke 52 so as to move the yoke and theroll 29 carried thereby away from the lower roll 2'! upon the release ofthe head 54 which encompasses the yoke on the side of the unit adjacentthe rolls. The roll 21 is fixed to a shaft 55 carried by the maincasting and gears 56-21 carried b the shafts 55 and 5! respectivelytransmit the turning movement of the lower shaft 55 to the upper shaft55. A worm gear 08 fixed to the lower shaft 55 is driven by the worm ofthe reduction gearing 29 and the motor 28.

The feed roll mechanism [9 is provided with a release lever 99 and therolls are geared to each other so as to turn together substantially asdescribed in connection with the rolls 25 and 2'1. The drive for therolls 2i! and 21, however, comes from the main shaft of the cold headerthrough the connecting rod 23 and is accordingly an intermittent driveas distinguished from the drive for the unit 25. The lever to is alsomoved to its release position, as shown in Fig. 3, when a new roll ofstock is to be started into the cold header.

Upon swinging the manually operated lever 59 to the full line position,the free end of the stock between the rolls 26 and 21 is securelygripped and a starting of the motor 29 advances the free end of thestock into the space between the straightening roll 31 and the anvil 3iand thence in between the rolls 29 and 21 which are at this timereleased. It will be understood that during the advance of the stock bymeans of the motor 28, the straightening roll 31 is in its dotted lineposition. As soon as the free end of the stock has been moved forwardlyin between the feed rolls 29 and 2 i, the lever 69 of the feed mechanism19 may be swung to its full line position to effect a gripping of thestock between the feed rolls. The motor 28 is thereafter stopped and thecold header motor is started. Thereafter the operation of the coldheader effects the step by step advancing of the stock by the feed rollsand the straightening of the stool: supported between the feed rolls andthe rolls 26 and 21, as heretofore described.

Although I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention inconsiderable detail,

it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art may effect numerousmodifications therein without departing from the scope of the inventionas defined in the following claims. What is claimed is: 1. A stockstraightener for a header having a pair of intermittently operated feedrolls, said straightener including stock guiding'means arrangedsubstantially in axial alinement with the pass of said feed rolls, ananvil positioned between said feed rolls and said guiding means on oneside of the line of feed of the stock, said anvil including a surfaceclosely adjacent to the line of feed of the stock and a surface mergingtherewith and extending away from such line of feed, a movablestraightener element disposed on the other side of the line of feed ofthe stock and means for moving said movable straightener element topress the stock being fed against the said surfaces of said anvil whilesaid feed rolls are idle. 2. A stock straightener for a header having apair of intermittently operated feed rolls, said straightener includingguide roll means arranged substantially in axial alinement with the passof said feed rolls, an anvil positioned between said feed rolls and saidguide roll means on one side of the line of feed of thestock, said anvilincluding a surface closely adjacent to the line of feed of the stockand a surface merging therewith and extending away from such line offeed, a movable straightener element disposed on the other side of theline of feed of the stock and means for moving said movable straightenerelement to press the stock being fed against the said surfaces of saidanvil while said feed rolls are idle.

3. A stock straightener for a header having a pair of intermittentlyoperated feed rolls, said straightener including stock guiding meansarranged substantially in axial alinement with the pass of said feedrolls, an anvil positioned between said feed rolls and said guidingmeans on one side of the line of feed of the stock, said anvil includinga surface closely adjacent to the line of feed of the'stock and asurface merging therewith and extending away from such line of feed, astraightener roll disposed on the other side of the line of feed of thestock, means mounting said straightener roll for pivotal movement in aplane containing said line of feed, and means moving said straightenerroll when said feed rolls are idle to press the stock being fed againstthe second portion of said anvil. I

JOHN H. FRIEDMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 62,669 Nelson Mar. 5, 1867 283,535 Tittle Aug. 21, 1883358,116 Gustin Feb. 22, 1887 536,237 Standford Mar. 26, 1895 611,695Lundy Oct, 4, 1898 1,161,864 Johnson Nov. 30, 1915 1,314,877 LangfordSept. 2, 1919 1,479,877 Sleeper Jan. 8, 1924 1,594,439 Williams Aug. 3,1926 2,139,936 Clouse Dec. 13, 1938 2,219,811 Friedman Oct. 29, 19402,393,702 Naegeli Jan. 29, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date18,144 Great Britain of 1911 323,981 Germany Aug. 17, 1920 239,462 GreatBritain Sept, 10, 1925 France Feb. 24, 1931

